Classical Voyages: Mexico City

Join us on a musical exploration of Mexico City! From opera arias and orchestral powerhouses to mariachi anthems and and virtuosic guitar compositions, we explore into some of the greatest works to premiere, originate, or take inspiration from Mexico’s gorgeous and exciting capital city! Mexico City is a rich center for music of all kinds — hear works by Manuel …

Classical Voyages: Paris

Allons-y à Paris! Join us on a musical tour of Paris, the City of Light.

Classical Voyages: London

Join us on a trip around London, a city with character, landmarks, and music to spare.

Playlist: Architecture & Music

Frank Lloyd Wright recognized the connection between music and architecture, going so far as to claim, “They are practically one.”

Classical Voyages: Rome

Travel with us to the Eternal City with this wide-ranging playlist of music dedicated to, inspired by, and hailing from Rome.

10 Composers Who Were Inspired by Their Travels

From Bolivia to Ghana to India to the US, the perspective-changing experience of travel influenced many of your favorite composers.

11 Legendary Classical Music Venues You Should Know (and Visit)

The world’s great concert halls, opera houses, and performance spaces are more than just buildings. They are the homes of centuries-old musical traditions.

Little Traveling Music, Please

Wanderers, farewells, and sightseeing; people are always on the go. This week, Bill calls up, “A Little Traveling Music, Please” from the pens of Handel, Smetana, Duke Ellington, and more. Reflections from such travels infuse themselves into their works, as we will discover throughout the week. We will hear selections from Beethoven’s Les Adieux, Schubert’s Die Schöne Mullerin, and Haydn’s …

Playlist: Classical Music for Travel

WFMT brings you a “musical getaway,” whether you’re enjoying the comfort of your cushiest armchair or exploring somewhere new!

Discover Illinois’ Newest Opera Company — Opera Edwardsville

A four-hour drive southwest from Chicago and just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis sits Edwardsville, Illinois. The small city — founder Chase Hopkins’ hometown — is the site of the state’s newest opera company.

A Striking Musical Retreat in the Big Sky State

Located on 12,000 acres in the foothills of the Beartooth Mountains, the rolling, expansive landscape of Tippet Rise provides an evocative complement for an art center and summer festival that combines music, sculpture, poetry, and nature.

Peter van de Graaff’s Postcards from Central Germany

With Earthbound Expeditions and Peter and Kathleen van de Graaff, WFMT listeners embarked on a classical music-oriented tour of Central Germany with Bach, Mendelssohn, and Clara Schumann at its center.

An Operatic Oasis in the English Countryside — Journey to the Glyndebourne Festival 

It’s not easy to get to Glyndebourne, and that’s the point. “We’re forcing people to slow down their busy lives,” says Gus Christie, the opera festival’s executive chairman, “and to come in and soak it all up.” Discover the multi-sensory experience – the aromas of the gardens, the taste of champagne bubbles, the sounds from the stage – that is Glyndebourne.

Postcards from Scandinavia — Lisa Flynn leads a musical journey to Denmark and Norway

One of the most exciting things about working at WFMT over the years has been the opportunity to travel on music-themed trips, meeting new friends who share a love of classical music. In early September, I led a group of eleven listeners on a journey to Denmark and Norway, where we saw cosmopolitan capitals and incredible natural beauty. Along the …

A globetrotting new PBS series uses classical music to explore countries, cultures

“The goal of the show is very simple,” says the host of Now Hear This, violinist and conductor Scott Yoo. “To make sure that people try out classical music and give it a chance… If you want to get the most out of life, part of it is getting the most out of music.”

6 Classical Music and Wine Pairings That Are Sure To Soothe Your Soul

Wine and music pair together in perfect harmony. Check out these 6 pairings from maestro and wine ambassador Enrique Mazzola.

Tour the Glyndebourne gardens, where music meets nature

Glyndebourne, located in the England countryside, declares that it produces “no ordinary opera,” and one could certainly use a similar mantra for its stately, stunning gardens. Musicians and patrons alike gain inspiration from the visual splendor of Glyndebourne. And according to Glyndebourne’s head gardener Kevin Martin, the inspiration is mutual. “I get inspiration from the music but also from the …

Hit the Road With These 3 Classical Music Road Trips You Can Take From Chicago

It’s just a fact: road trips are better when live music is the destination!

Playlist: The Greats of British Classical Music

Some of the most beautiful music ever composed originates from or was inspired by the British Isles. Weekend morning program host Maggie Clennon Reberg and Introductions host and producer Michael San Gabino have selected some of their favorites in this great British playlist!

WFMT takes NYC | Postcards from Host Peter van de Graaff

Another fantastic trip with Earthbound Expeditions and WFMT!

Playlist: A Toast To Vienna, the City of Classical Music

There may be one city in the world that can be considered the capital of New Year’s celebrations and music, and that is Vienna, Austria. We asked several classical artists to share why they love living in this venerable European city.

Postcards from Poland and Prague | A Musical Journey with Host Peter van de Graaff

WFMT listeners love to explore classical music destinations around the world. From September 22 to October 3, we enjoyed an Earthbound Expeditions trip filled with great concerts, great food, and great companionship throughout Poland and the Czech Republic.

Musicians Share Why Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival Is the Gig That Gives Them “All Any of Us Really Want”

As the WFMT Radio Network’s series from the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival returns, we asked participants what makes this location so enchanting.

From Russia with Love | A Postcard from WFMT Host Lisa Flynn

Russia has been a place I’ve longed to visit for many years. I finally got my chance in September, joining a genial group of WFMT listeners and fellow music lovers for a fantastic adventure. Here are photos from our Russian adventure.

Baroque Music Flourishes in the Gardens of William Christie

In 1985, William Christie, the founder and music director of the Baroque ensemble Les Arts Florissants, was driving in the French countryside when he saw Thiré for the first time. Located in the Vendée region of France, an hour south of Nantes, Thiré has about 500 residents and is filled with sprawling corn and sunflower fields.